Beehive honeycomb frame



y 29, 1952 R. P. HAMILTON 2,604,643

BEEHIVE HONEYCOMB FRAME Filed June 11, 1947 I INVENTOR.

L! v /W z Z1 11 v/ I Patented July 29, 1952 Bn'nnrvn HONEYCOMB FRAME Robert Parker Hamilton, River Edge Manor, N. J., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of

one-fourth to Edward C. Wheaton, Rutherford, N.J.,'andfone-fourth to Leo C. KrazinskL'New ratorium 11, 1947, SerialNo. 753,952

My invention relates to honeycomb f ames and refers particularly to devices of the character mentioned adapted to be suspended i beehive supers. v

One of the objects of my invention is honeycomb frames adapted for proper spaced positions with respect to each other when suspended in a beehive super. I

Another object of my invention is honeycomb frames adapted to allow of maximum space for the passage of bees between the suspended dei es- Another object of my invention is honeycomb frames adapted to expose a maximju'm of comb building surface.

Another object of my invention is honeycomb frames free from separable. jointures, thus insuring constant rigidity of the devices and preventing accidental separationof their elements of construction. 1

Another object of my invention is honeycomb frames which are simple in construction, light in weight, hygienic and capable of inexpensive construction. I

Honeycomb frames must comprise "means whereby they can be readily suspended in beehive supers at predetermined distances from each other and can be readily removed, therefrom without injury to the formed comb} they must comprise means whereby a sheet of wax' foundation may be readily inserted therein and maintained in taut position during the comb forming operations, they must expose a maximum full surface of the wax foundation in order that a maximum amount of combs may be formed thereon by the bees, they must be so constructed that the wax foundation will not sag during the comb formation, and they must be of such construction and of such material that they will not warp or change their form during repeated uses thereof. r I

The honeycomb frames'of my invention possess all of the foregoing andother valuable attributes. The preferred form of the honeycomb-frames of my device comprises a rectangular frame, reinforced by at least one rod extending from and attached to, or a part of, opposite sides and extended projections from the opposite faces of the frame adapted to act as suspending meansin beehive supers and to space, or separate, the frames from each other in predetermined distances.

The objects and attributes of the honeycomb frames of my invention will be evident upon a consideration of my specification and its accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawingsillustrating one form of comb frames of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outer frame portion of one form of a device of my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective -view of one form of a wax-retaining element for employmentwith the outer frame portion of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is an enlarged 'section'through the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the wax-retaining member of Figure 2 inserted therein.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section through the line 4-4 of Figure'l. j

Figure 5 is a fragmentarytop plan *view of a plurality of the device'sof my invention inserted in a. super element of a vertical sectional beehive.

The particular form of a comb frame of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a top member I0, a bottom member I I, andtwosidemembersIZ, I2. 1 H

The top member Ill has the two outwardly extended supporting members 13,13. The end portions of the top member I0 have transversely directed pyramidal ribs l4, I4 at diagonally opposite corners and transversely directed ribs I5,

I5, also at diagonally opposite corners, ribs- I 4, I5

and ribs I5, I4 being respectively positioned upon the same side of the top "member III, in each case. The underside of the top member ID has a shoulder I6 for purposes'described later;

The bottom-member 1| is similar to' the top member I0 except that it does not have the extended members I3, I3'.- v

The end portions I2 and I2 are similar in construction. The end portion I2 has the extended pyramidal rib I1 and the rectangular rib I8. The pyramidal rib "is a continuation of the pyramidal rib I 4 of the top member I0 and the "rectangular rib I8 is a continuation of the rectangular rib I5 of the top member ID. The'members of the side member I'2' correspond to those as spring metal, adapted to fit within the recesses 2 I, 2| of the top member I0, the bottom member II and the side members I2 and I2 cammed by their shoulders I6, I6, the contacts of the rod I with the top, bottom and sides of the device being such as to hold it within said recess free from accidental displacement therefrom. A rectangularly shaped rod 22 connects the two end portions of the member 20, being, welded thereto.

The Qptration of-my device: is as follows: A sheet of wax foundation paper24 is placed upon the shoulder l6 as shown in Figure 3, care L being taken that it fits snugly therein, the foundation being prevented from sagging by the rods I9, 19', and the wax-retaining member 20 is placed upon the edge portions of the wax foundation, this wax-retaining member 20 being pressed upon the wax foundation to maintainit' in position and the retaining member 20 being prevented from accidental outward movement by separating member extending from the other 10.

side thereo the other end portion of said top having a pyramidal spacing member extending from one side thereof and a rectangular sepaits frictional contact with the top, bottom; and

sides of the frame.

The member ll) contains a plurality of angular recesses 26, 26', into which a tool may be inserted to facilitate the removal of the frames from the hive, in the event. the bees should cover the frame with p'ropolis. H

The manner in which the combframe of my invention may be employed with the elements of an ordinary beehive is shown in Figure 5, illustrating two of my frames suspended in asuper element '30 of a vertical sectional beehive by means of the extended members l3, [3 carried by the ledge 3| of the hives.

It will be noted that the pyramidal extended member of one frame abuts upon the rectangular extended member of the adjoining frames thus forming the proper space between the frames for the passage of the bees.

My invention is not limited to the specific size, shape, number, arrangement or material parts mentioned and described, all of which can be varied without going beyond the scope of my invention.

What I claim is: a V

1. In a honeycomb frame, in combination, a rectangular frame havingv a top, bottom, and two sides, at least one rod extending between the top and bottom, each endportion of. the top of said frame extending beyond the side of the frame adjacent thereto, one end portion of said top having a pyramidal spacing member extending from one side thereof and a rectangular separating member extending from the other side thereof, the other end portion of said top having a pyramidal spacing member extending from one side thereof and a rectangular separating member extending from the other side thereof, a pyramidal extending member of one end portion and arectangular extending member of the other end portion being upon the same side of the top, a continuous shoulder in the inner faces of said rectangular frame forming a continuousrecess therein, said recess being adapted to receive the edge portions of a sheet of wax, and a resilient frame adapted to be disposed in said recess to maintain the edge portions of said sheet of wax positioned upon said shoulder.

. rating' member extending from the other side thereof, a pyramidal extending member of one end portio'n and arectangular extending member of the'other' end portion being upon the same side of the top, a continuous shoulder in the innerfaces of said rectangular frame adapted to receive the edge portions of a sheet of wax, and a resilient frame frictionally engageable with said rectangular frame adapted to maintain said sheet of wax positioned upon said shoulder.

- Number 3. In a honeycomb frame, in combination, a rectangular frame having a top, bottom, and two sides, at least one rod interconnecting said top and bottom intermediate the sides thereof, each end portion of the top extending beyond the side of the frame adjacent thereto, one end portion of said top having a pyramidal spacing member extending from one side thereof and a rectangular separating member extending from the other side thereof, the other end portion of said top having a pyramidal spacing member extending from one side thereof and a rectangular separating member extending from the other side thereof, a pyramidal extending member of one end portion and a rectangular extending member of the other end portion being upon the same side of the top, a continuous shoulder along the inner faces of said top, bottom, and sides for receiving the edge portions of a sheet of wax, and a resilient rectangular frame having an intermediate cross-ro'd, the 'perimetrical surfaces of said resilient frame being frictionally engageable with 'said'inner faces, the inner sides of said resilient frame being in abutting engagement with said edge portions of the wax sheet, and said interconnecting rod and cross-rod being on opposite sides of the body of said wax sheet for supporting the wax sheet therebetween.

ROBERT PARKER HAMILTON.

" file of this patent:

UNITED, STATES PATENTS Name Date 660,574 -Horner Oct. 30, 1900 1,412,457 Dadant Apr. 11, 1922 1,725,448 Erdmann Aug. 20, 1929 1,734,710 I Borchert Nov. 5, 1929 1,947,706 ,Frater Feb. 20, 1934 Dadentet a1. Mar. 16, 1943 

